Julie Martinoli figured if Congressman Rick Larsen can stand in front of 2,500 people to talk health care than Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell should, too.
Thursday, the Monroe resident appealed to the two Democratic senators to do so.
She shouldn’t hold her breath.
Neither senator plans to host a health care forum this month — and maybe never.
“Sen. Murray is not doing any town halls. They are not a form that she uses to interact with constituents,” said her spokeswoman Alex Glass.
Though Cantwell hasn’t set one yet, “it is entirely possible” she will this fall when the Senate Finance Committee on which she serves should be considering specific legislation, said her spokeswoman Cieran Clayton.
Pressure is slowly building on the senators to get in front of a crowd with a microphone and moderate an untethered conversation on what is becoming the most fiercely debated issue in this country since the war in Iraq.
It’s coming from individuals and interest groups, such as the Skykomish Valley Seeds of Liberty of which Martinoli is a leader.
“It is clear that the people want the opportunity to express their opinions on both sides of the issue,” Martinoli wrote Murray and Cantwell in an open letter shared with reporters. “We believe it is your sacred duty as representative senators to provide a venue for this discourse.”
Martinoli said late Thursday she’s not heard back from either one. She’s hoping they’ll stop “hiding out” soon.
“The people want a response. They want to be able to have an open discussion on health care,” she said.
Murray, a member of Senate leadership, is showing little interest in large-scale dialogue such as the forum Larsen held Wednesday at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Murray will continue discussing health care reform with small numbers of people at roundtables and in meetings with organizations such as chambers of commerce, Glass said.
She did this July 2 at The Everett Clinic. The conversation focused on how to ensure there are enough nurses and physicians to serve all the people who are expected to gain medical coverage under any proposed reform.
Murray intends to hold another health care-related roundtable in Everett later this month, though Glass had no details Thursday.
Murray, who has held telephone town halls on health care, set up a page on her senate Web site where residents can share stories, and concerns, on health care. There have been more than 6,000 responses, Glass said.
Cantwell has held six panel discussions on health care since April. The public could attend these and submit questions, Clayton said. Roughly 200 people showed up at a June 30 event in Seattle.
“We’ve had people inquire about us doing a town hall,” Clayton said. Though none are scheduled the senator is not afraid of hosting one, she said.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
Inslee schedules town hall
Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., announced Thursday he will host an open forum on health care on Aug. 30 in Edmonds.
It is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. and will be in the gymnasium at Edmonds-Woodway High School, 7600 212th St. SW.
Inslee’s congressional district includes south Snohomish County.
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